FBX, which stands for Filmbox, is a proprietary file format developed by Autodesk for the exchange of 3D content between various 3D modeling and animation software applications.

Here are key points about FBX files:

  1. Interoperability: FBX is designed to facilitate the exchange of 3D assets between different 3D software applications, regardless of the software’s origin or manufacturer. This helps artists and animators work with diverse software packages while maintaining compatibility.
  2. Geometry: FBX files store detailed information about 3D models, including geometry (vertices, edges, and polygons), UV texture coordinates, normals, and materials. This makes it suitable for transferring complex 3D scenes and characters.
  3. Animation: FBX supports the transfer of animation data, including skeletal animations (rigging and skinning), keyframe animations, blend shapes, and more. This makes it valuable for character animation and rigging workflows.
  4. Hierarchy: FBX files maintain the hierarchical structure of 3D scenes, preserving relationships between objects, nodes, and their transformations. This is essential for accurately reproducing complex scenes.
  5. Cameras and Lights: FBX files can store information about cameras and lights used in a scene, allowing for the transfer of camera setups and lighting configurations.
  6. Materials and Textures: FBX supports the exchange of material definitions, shaders, and texture maps, making it suitable for rendering and visualization tasks.
  7. Scene Metadata: FBX files can include metadata, such as scene descriptions, names of objects, and custom attributes, helping users organize and identify elements within a 3D scene.
  8. Rigging and Skinning: FBX can represent complex character rigs, including bones, joints, and skin weights. This is essential for character animation and deformation.
  9. Popular Format: FBX has gained popularity in the entertainment industry, especially in video game development, 3D animation, and visual effects (VFX) production. Many 3D software applications, including Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Blender, Unity, and Unreal Engine, support FBX.
  10. Binary and ASCII Formats: FBX files come in both binary and ASCII formats. The ASCII format is human-readable and can be edited manually, while the binary format is more compact and efficient for storage and transfer.
  11. Versioning: FBX files are associated with different versions of the FBX format, each of which may have specific features and compatibility. It’s important to use a version of FBX that is compatible with the software you are working with.

FBX is a versatile and widely used format for 3D content exchange in the entertainment and animation industries. It allows artists, animators, and developers to collaborate seamlessly across different software applications and platforms while preserving the integrity of 3D scenes, animations, and assets.